Tip Piumsomboon from Blackbird Ventures and Paul Booth from ASB have been elected to the Council of the New Zealand
Private Capital Association.
Fergus Lee from ASB and Tony Bishop from Pan Pacific Capital have stepped down after many years of service. Tony Bishop
has served on the Council for eighteen years, since the inception of the association in 2002.
Tip Piumsomboon
Tip Piumsomboon is a Principal at Blackbird Ventures, a top venture capital firm seeding the likes of Canva, Zoox and
Culture Amp. Blackbird has invested in over 70 companies in a range of industries and typically leads Seed and Series A
rounds with follow-on investments. Tip is based in New Zealand, along with Blackbird Partner Samantha Wong, to spearhead
the $60M fund dedicated to investing in Kiwi founders building world-class technology companies. Tip started her career
in the investment team at NZ Super Fund before automating her role in equities research at a fintech start-up, Simply
Wall St.
Paul Booth
Paul Booth is Head of Capital Markets & Advisory at ASB and was previously the bank’s Head of Debt Markets. His career includes stints in Europe and the Middle
East.
‘Our new Council members are advocates for private equity markets in New Zealand and share our understanding that
private equity and venture capital firms accelerate the ambition of New Zealand business owners through operational
improvement and investment performance,’ says NZ Private Capital Executive Director, Colin McKinnon.
Mr McKinnon adds: ‘We are fortunate in New Zealand to share many examples of private capital partnering with companies
to improve growth and performance, to share expertise and capital. This ultimately delivers improved productivity,
creates jobs and contributes to the national economy.’
New Zealand Private Capital aims to foster understanding that private equity and venture capital firms accelerate the
ambition of New Zealand business owners through operational improvement and investment performance.
New Zealand is home to many examples of private capital partnering with companies to improve growth and performance, to
share expertise and capital. This ultimately delivers improved productivity, creates jobs and contributes to the
national economy.
Association members include venture capital and private equity investors, financial organisations, professional
advisors, academic organisations and government or quasi-government agencies.
Its activities cover the spectrum of investment in New Zealand private capital including Angel investment, seed and
early-stage venture capital through to expansion capital and private equity (including management buy-outs and buy-ins).
The association also helps businesses navigate and understand the Private Equity and Venture Capital world. Markets and
growth require the free flow of capital and the association provides an important role in linking business owners with
investors.